by Vella, Wendy
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder!”
Dimity watched the man she loved charge, his blade struck the chest of Ombrage and in seconds the man had fallen to the floor, where he lay unmoving. Michael Deville moved forward and checked his pulse.
“He is dead.”
“Excellent,” Daniel said. “And now, gentlemen, if you will all drop to the floor and place your hands behind your heads.”
…
“I have a carriage for you and Dimity, Gabe,” Michael Deville said what felt like hours later.
The men had been taken to the magistrate and Ombrage’s body removed.
“Come.” She felt his fingers circle her wrist. “Into the carriage now, sweetheart.”
She stiffened at the endearment but followed. He settled her on one seat, then took the opposite. Walter sat beside Dimity, leaning his head on the carriage wall. Clearly, he was exhausted.
“How much do you know?” he asked her as the carriage started to move.
“I am French?”
He nodded. “You are from a family called the Saint-Bonnards.”
Dimity listened as he talked, his eyes holding hers as he spoke. When he had finished, she looked away.
“And now you love me?”
“I loved you before.”
“No, you didn’t. You love me now because my blood is suddenly blue.” She tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“Stop the carriage!” he bellowed, thumping a fist on the roof.
“Wh-What are you doing?”
He didn’t speak, just opened the door and dragged her outside behind him.
“Your arm!”
“Is fine.”
“What’s the problem?” Zach said, sounding testy.
“She doesn't believe I loved her before I knew she was a Saint-Bonnard,” Gabe said loudly to the men who all sat astride horses looking exhausted, as was she.
“Lord Raine—”
“Shut up.” He glared at her.
“I will not.” He placed a hand over her mouth.
“Tell her I told you I loved her before I knew who she was.”
“He did, Dimity,” Michael said. “We got that confession out of him on our way to the duchess’s house today. And that was before we knew Ombrage had taken you.”
“Ouch!” She’d bitten him. “Tell her, Nathan,” he said, shaking his hand.
Each of them told her that Gabriel had said he loved her before he knew her identity.
“Now get back inside.” He pointed to the carriage, and the look in his eyes had her obeying.
He watched her as they started moving once more. Walter snored at her side.
“I love you, Miss Dimity Brown or Charlotte Elise Saint-Bonnard—”
“Is that my name?” she breathed.
“It is, and you come from a noble French family, but if you didn’t, I would still love you and ask you to marry me.”
“You asked me to be your mistress.”
“Forgive me for that.” He reached across the seat and lifted her, lowering her to his lap.
“You have a bullet hole in your arm!” she protested.
“Marry me,” he said softly. “Be my wife, Dimity. Only with you can I truly be myself. From the start, I felt something for you but fought hard against it. You challenge me and make me a better man. Say you’ll be mine, love.”
“I won’t let you control me like you do your siblings.” Her heart seemed almost too big for her chest now.
“But I will try.” He kissed her. “Say yes.”
She sighed. “There is so much uncertainty now. But I do know that I want to face that with you at my side, Gabriel.”
“I will be with you, my love, every step of the way.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
One month later Dimity Charlotte Elise Saint-Bonnard, as she’d chosen to call herself, was pacing between Gabe’s desk, behind which he sat, and the window. Walter was on his haunches at Gabe’s feet, his head tilted to one side, watching his mistress’s nervous gestures.
Reaching down, he scratched behind the dog’s ears and earned a lick on the back of the hand.
Gabe tried once again to concentrate on the letter he had received from his steward. Realizing the futility of his endeavors, he put it aside and joined the dog watching Dimity as she once again twitched the curtain aside.
One month had brought about many changes in her life. Word had arrived from her family in France stating they’d uncovered a ledger with Mr. Brown the piano teacher’s name in it. The St-Bonnard parents had given her into his care during the revolution, and there she’d stayed. Gabe was sure they would learn more about this today, and he knew Dimity longed to understand why the man she still called father had left France with her. He doubted some questions would ever be answered, and the truth had been buried with Mr. Brown and the St-Bonnards.
She’d moved from being a servant in the Duchess of Yardly’s home to a guest. The duchess had insisted upon this, and also introducing her by her full title. If society recognized the duchess’s previous companion, no one commented, as the Deville brothers, the Sinclair and Raven families, and the Duke of Rossetter had acknowledged her, and Gabe claimed her as his future wife.
“Dimity, I have just replaced this carpet, and there is every chance I will need to do so again if you do not stop wearing it out.”
Today was to be Dimity’s first meeting with her brothers. Louis and Charles Saint-Bonnard. She was terrified.
“All will go well, sweetheart. I am here with you.” He caught her hand as she passed again and tugged her down into his lap. “My siblings will also be here, and Daniel.”
She wore blue today. A soft sky-blue dress that caressed every curve of her lovely body. Gabe traced the neckline, and she shivered, as he’d known she would. He then picked up her hand and kissed the betrothal ring she wore that had once been his mother’s.
“I am nervous, Gabe.”
“Which is entirely natural, considering you are meeting your siblings for the first time.”
“That makes me feel better.”
He kissed her until she softened against him.
“I love you, Dimity.”
“And I you. But I’m still nervous.”
A gentle knock on the door made Dimity jump from his lap and run to open it. Fairfax stood outside wearing a wide smile.
“Have they arrived, Fairfax?”
“Indeed they have. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to them, Miss Brown—oh dear, I mean—”
“We’ve discussed this, Fairfax. I don’t give a fig what you call me.”
Gabe laughed at his butler’s expression. He then took his fiancée’s hand in his and followed Fairfax.
“I feel suddenly ill, Gabe.”
“No, you don’t. Where is that spirit I so admire? Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft now you have noble blood?” His comment had the desired effect, because she glared at him.
“Lord Raine and, ah…,” Fairfax stuttered.
“I’ll take it from here,” Gabe said, stepping into the room towing Dimity behind him.
The brothers stood together, and there was no doubt that Dimity belonged to them. She had the eldest brother’s eyes and the younger’s coloring—and smile, Gabe added silently. They were tall men, the eldest bigger in build.
“Charlotte?” Louis whispered, stepping forward. “It really is you.”
Gabe placed a hand on her spine and nudged her forward.
“D-Do you want to see the locket and birthmark?” she said, her voice high-pitched.
“No.” Louis shook his head. “You have the identical look of our mother; there is no doubt in my mind.”
It was when the tears started to fall silently down the man’s cheeks that Dimity’s shoulders softened and she stepped into his arms.
“Dear Lord, little sister, I cannot tell you how long I have wanted to do this.”
Charles watched the reunion as if carved from stone. Loui
s kissed his sister’s cheeks and then just looked at her face.
“Ah, Charlotte, it is my very great pleasure to meet you again after so very long. But now meet your other brother.”
She turned to stand before Charles, and the likeness between them was striking.
“Hello, Charles.”
He touched her cheek, and Gabe saw the fingers trembled.
“I’m so sorry we lost you, soeur.” The words were hoarse.
“That’s all right. We’ve found each other now.”
Gabe felt his body relax as Charles Saint-Bonnard gently folded his sister into his arms and wept. Slipping out the door, he found Fairfax and asked him for refreshments.
“Where did you go, Gabe?” Dimity met him upon his return.
“Just ordering some food, my love, as my brothers will join yours shortly. They will no doubt be hungry.”
“I have brothers, Gabe.”
“I know. Do you want to introduce me to them?”
She towed him forward and introduced him as Gabriel. He hid his smile; most would introduce him as the Earl of Raine, but not his sweet, unpretentious Dimity.
Their families met, and the Duchess of Yardly arrived wearing a hideous shade of puce, and soon the room was full of laughter and love. Walter and Romulus waited patiently for crumbs to be dropped.
Gabe stepped to Dimity’s side, pulling her close.
“I love you,” he whispered into her ear.
“And I love you, my pompous earl.”
In that moment, he doubted he could be happier.
* * *
Thank you for reading SEDUCED BY A DEVIL. I hope you enjoyed Gabe and Dimity’s story. Book #2 in the Deville Brothers series RESCUSED BY A DEVIL is available for pre-order now!
He vowed to never trust her again
It had taken a single look at Miss Bethany Carlow for Nathanial Deville to fall in love. He’d believed she’d felt the same, until the note stating she didn’t return his affections. The following day she’d disappeared.
Devastated, Nathan put his shattered heart back together and declared love was no longer for him. Now cynical, and untrusting, two years has taught him many things, hiding his emotions being one of them. An excellent skill that he calls upon when he steps into a ballroom and sees Beth again.
She vows to do what it takes to protect those she loves
A threat to her family had forced Beth from London and the man she loved. Only a greater threat would have her stepping back into society to face him again.
His veneer like hers is civil, but those eyes tell her he will never forgive her perfidious behavior. In fact he loathes her, and while every hateful look inflicts pain she is here for a purpose. A deceitful treasonous purpose that will save those she loves. Can she do what must be done or will Nathan unmask her?
He is bound by a legacy to protect the monarchy. She has vowed to do what it takes to keep her family safe. Can they find their way back to each other in the face of danger, when they are on different sides?
Preorder Rescued By A Devil now!
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Have you read my Amazon Bestselling Sinclair and Raven Series? Book #1 is SENSING DANGER. For an excerpt read on:
“I enjoyed SENSING DANGER so much I kept reading rather than sleeping!”
-Amazon reviewer
Legend says the Sinclairs heightened senses are a result of a long ago pact between them and the powerful Raven family. To Honor and Protect is their creed, but the current Duke of Raven doesn’t make their task easy.
Arrogant and aloof, James, Duke of Raven, is determined to forge his own path and to hell with folk tales that his ancestors created. But when the breathtaking Eden Sinclair saves his life by risking her own, their past resurfaces, and with it comes the uncomfortable realization that they are linked by more than history.
Eden is forced to see the man behind the cool, haughty façade when she must use her special abilities to keep him safe. His suspicion of her soon turns into something else, something far more dangerous. Eden is torn between duty and self-protection. Does she have the strength to fight fate, in order to protect her own heart?
ONE CLICK FOR SENSING DANGER!
“OMG, this is fantastic. It gripped me right from the start. Wow, I couldn't believe the opening chapter, it was so bloody thrilling.”
-Goodreads reviewer
Turn the page for an excerpt of Sensing Danger!
Sensing Danger
“You're best to just spit it out, James. It can't be healthy to have all that angst roiling around inside a person.” Cam's voice carried to him.
Devon coughed and Eden muffled a giggle. James, however, growled softly and then ground his teeth. Neither action eased his spleen, so he spoke his mind.
“How dare you put your sisters and mine in danger!” James waited for the siblings to reach him. Each had left their position at his first word and now flanked him.
“They were never in any danger, Raven. In fact, my siblings and I did what we had to, to preempt just that,” Devon added.
“You allowed your sister to ride into danger, Sinclair—a woman!”
“And therefore, unable to protect herself, James?”
James turned at Eden's words; her face appeared calm, yet her eyes were not. The laughter had gone to be replaced by an anger that suddenly seemed a match for his.
“I did not say that, Eden—”
“Come, James, we are all interested in what you have to say.”
James swallowed. How had the conversation veered out of his control?
“Eden, it is our job to protect you, not plunge you recklessly into danger where—”
“I may break a fingernail, or perhaps my skirts would be dirtied?”
“If you will let me explain—”
“Dear Lord!” Eden gasped as if a sudden thought had occurred to her.
“What?” James looked up the road. Was there more trouble ahead?
“Imagine if I was all alone without one of my big male protectors and I had a stone in my slipper.”
Cam was now laughing so hard he was snorting. Sinclair just smiled, but it was wide enough to expose his teeth.
“I wonder, James”—his name should not sound so sweet spilling from her lips, especially considering she'd spat it out through her teeth—” if you could locate my needlework.” Eden looked around her as if it would magically appear.
“I did not mean to suggest you were unable to care for—”
Eden held up at hand to halt his words and once again, much to his surprise, he compiled. Her eyes flashed at him, cheeks flushed. She looked wild. A luscious wild virago, he thought, staring at her mouth. Hell, he wanted to close the distance and kiss her into silence.
“I understand your views, James, yet thankfully I have, for the most, forward-thinking brothers and do not have to adhere to them.”
“Thank you, darling.”
Ignoring Cam, she continued. “So perhaps for the remainder of this journey, you should endeavor to understand that I am different from the cosseted women of your acquaintance. Now if you will excuse me, my sister is calling me.”
Before James could react she had turned away from him, and he was sure she muttered “addlepated fool.”
Devon was still smiling, although he attempted to rein it in as James glared at him.
“A word of advice, Raven?”
“What.”
“My sisters do not take direction kindly. It is best to guide them as one would a bad-tempered animal.
They are headstrong, intelligent, and spirited, and I would have them no other way, though I beg you do not alert them to that fact.”
“Sinclair, I would rather fall into a pit of venomous snakes than further acquaint myself with your siblings,” James snarled rudely. He then rode back to the head of their little caravan and refused to feel any guilt over his words. They had been wrong to take such risks, and he would not allow them to do so again while he and his sister were keeping their company.
SENSING DANGER – available now
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The Lady Seals Her Fate
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Seeing Danger
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